alcohol

[Guest guest]

How many post DS folks drink alcohol?

I am aware that we are not SUPPOSED to drink alcohol and it is bad for

the liver, especially in post DS bodies.

I am curious how many of us will admit to drinking after surgery and to

how large a degree.

I went through a phase of getting drunk 'stupid' every weekend or every

other weekend about 20 months post op. I had not been a drinking

person prior to that. I had, back in my young adulthood, drank very

little and gotten drunk very seldom. During my last marriage, I didnt

drink at all. (the 12 years before GRDS)

I stopped the drunk binges about 6 mths after I started. I figure it

was a phase that ran it's course. I have read many stories of post WLS

patients going through phases such as these.

Since December, 2006, until about March, 2007, I was in so much agony

from the pain in my spine and radiating pain down both legs, the pain

meds just didnt cut it. I have never felt so much continuous pain with

no end in sight! I found myself crying and wondering around the house

in absolute agony, just wanting the pain to end. It was horrible.

One night I spotted the bottle of Captain s on top of the

refrigerator as I was leaning on the sink in agony, tears running down

my face, no relief for the pain.....

I understand now how alcoholics and drug addicts think. At least some

of them.

When I couldnt make the pain go away, after taking all the pain meds I

was allowed, when I wondered about the house with nowhere to turn, no

way to ease my pain, Captain rescued me. Two or three shots

from that bottle was all it took to make the pain go away enough to

sleep.

I told the pain management doc about it. I told my psychiatrist about

it. I was embarrassed and felt so weak that I had resorted to

alcohol. To my suprise, both doctors understood and did not make me

feel like some sort of 'bad' person. The pain management doc scheduled

me for spinal injections and told me that I would probably find the

need for 'extra' help from the alcohol would be non-existant. The

physchiatrist upped my welbutrin...LOL. They both told me not to 'beat

myself up' about the alcohol as that much pain causes desperation.

I had the spinal injections in March, 2007, and have been so much

better that I am totally amazed. Of course, it is a temporary 'fix'

and I will need more 'fixes' as time goes on, but it is wonderful to

have so many good, pain free days! I still have pain, but I take less

pain meds and dont feel the NEED for alcohol.

These days, I drink a beer now and then, mostly on a weekend during

social activities. I have a few Capt cocktails on occasion with

my soul mate, but very occasionally. It is good to know I dont NEED it.

I used to think Alcoholics and drug addicts were just weak people, or

people that had chemical problems due to heredity or whatever. I have

a MUCH better understanding of addiction now. I have MUCH more respect

for those that have tried to 'drown' the pain, simply because it is too

much to bare. I no longer think of ALL addics as weak.

It is quite possible that SEVERAL addicts are actually the strongest

people on the planet, just at the bitter edge of their lives.

Anne

in Santee